Chinua Achebe Vs 50 Cent ,The Battle For Things Fall Apart And $1Million.
By Rowlandgate.
This was a true live story , about nine years ago, the renowned literary icon, Chinua Achebe, turned down a $1 million offer from American rapper, Curtis Jackson, popularly known as 50 cent to use the title of his book ‘Things Fall Apart‘ for a movie tithe.
About the said time, the American rapper was preparing to release a movie with the title ‘Things Fall Apart’, only to be contacted by the legal team of Chinua Achebe for infringing on the intellectual property of the father of modern Africa literature.
This issue led to a legal battle between the duo. However, 50 cent knowing that victory is not assured in the legal moves decided to offer the African poet $1 million dollar in order to keep the title. But the offer was turned down by Chinua Achebe who took the offer as an insult.
The lawyer of the African literature hero, said “The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958, that is 17 years before 50 cent was born. It is listed as the most read book in modern african literature and won’t be sold for even £1 billion”.
Ultimately, the decline of the offer forced 50 cent to change the tithe of the movie from ‘Things Fall Apart’ to ‘All Things Fall Apart’. The movie from 50 cent is a story of an American football player who was diagnosed with cancer. According to reports, it was a project that was written, produced and financed by 50 cent.
The rejection of the $1 million offer by Chinua Achebe created some reactions from the public. While some people think Achebe shouldn’t have rejected such an amount of money, others think the rejection is a good move because the author’s integrity worth more than money.
Furthermore, ‘Things Fall Apart’ from Chinua Achebe is said to be one of the most read books in Africa with over 8 million copies sold and has been translated to over 40 different languages. Chinua Achebe died 21st March, 2013 but his works lives on, the legend lives on.
